Do you have the correct resources for your practice? i.e, soccer balls,
pennies, cones, first-aid kit?

Do you have a list of emergency contact numbers in the event of an accident?

PLANNING

Prior to the commencement of each practice, give yourself at least 20 minutes
to plan what you intend to cover during the session.

Think about….

What aspects of soccer do the team most need to work on?

What aspects of soccer would the team benefit from recapping over?

Therefore, what will be the objectives (learning outcomes) of the practice?

How can you make this topic fun and enjoyable for the children?

How can you integrate maximum participation into your practice?

In order to achieve maximum participation throughout the practice try to avoid
line drills wherever possible. If they cannot be avoided, reduce player
waiting time by making multiple lines. Maximum participation refers to the
concept of involving every player throughout the practice. More involvement
means more touches, more goals, more decisions, more choice, more passes, more
learning and more fun!

When planning your soccer practice, it is advisable that you follow a gradual
progression structure. For example, a 90 minute practice may flow in the
following way: -

TIME

ACTIVITY TYPE

0 – 05 min

Registration and explanation of practice objectives

5 – 15 min

Warm-up

15 – 35 min

Unopposed activities

35 – 55 min

Opposed activities

55 – 70 min

Conditioned scrimmage

70 – 85 min

Free scrimmage

85 – 90 min

Cool-down and discussion of learning outcomes

Be flexible with the timing of each activity type, because
some exercises / games may take longer than you expect. However, try to stay
within the progressive structure of your plan. This will help the players learn
what you are trying to coach to them in an easier way. Do not be afraid to go
back a step if the players are finding the activities too difficult. Also allow
players time for quick water breaks.

Ensure that you have a contingency (back-up) plan in the
event of bad weather, or in case you cannot go ahead with plan A. Can the same
practice be coached indoors or in a small space?

WARM-UP

The warm-up should be an integral part of your soccer
practice, since it helps both the physical and psychological preparation for
physical activity. Warm-ups are important for the following reasons: -

It warms the body, allowing it to reach a higher core temperature

A warm body helps prepare the muscles and joints for movement

It increases the flow of blood and oxygen around the body

It increases heart rate

It gradually allows the lungs to work harder

It stimulates the Central Nervous System (CNS) in the brain, which
dictates how fast players can run and how quickly we will recover

It helps to speed up reaction times

It helps prevent injury

When devising your warm-up ensure that it starts gently, and
progresses to complex patterns of movement that will cover a greater range of
motion that you are likely to need in a soccer game. Consider the following
steps: -

Step One: Moving joints – slow circular movements
of the joints in both directions (Note: The neck should only be moved in
semi-circles)

Step Three: Dynamic actions – movements that are
likely to be used in a game. For example, leg swings, jumping for a
header

Avoid static stretches to limbs prior to exercise. With
static stretching the nervous system is relaxed instead of excited. As a result,
the muscles fire slowly and there is no increase in core temperature. This means
that mixed messages are sent to the muscles.

UNOPPOSED ACTIVITIES

Unopposed activities allow the players to develop particular
soccer skills without the pressure of an opponent trying to steel the ball. For
example, shooting through cones to a partner with no defender present. The light
intensity of this part of the practice makes it a suitable time for the coach to
deliver coaching points to the players (not all at once). This section of the
practice can be made competitive by racing the players against each other or by
timing them. However, start off with no element of competition and gradually
build up to it.

OPPOSED ACTIVITIES

Opposed activities consist of exercises where the players
attempt to perform particular soccer skills while under a certain degree of
pressure from an opponent. For example, three attackers try to maintain
possession of the ball, and one defender forces them to make a weak pass, or
tries to steel the ball. It is important that the degree of pressure in this
section of the practice progresses from passive (very light) to full pressure.
Immediate full pressure on a player may force them to make errors before they
have had a chance to experience success at the task.

CONDITIONED SCRIMMAGES

Conditioned scrimmages are very similar to regular
scrimmages. However, certain restrictions are placed on each team in order to
practice what has been covered during the session. For example, a passing
conditioned scrimmage may involve passing over an end-line to score, or playing
two-touch so that players are forced to pass. Conditioned scrimmages are a good
way for coaches to practically demonstrate the learning outcomes of the
practice.

FREE SCRIMMAGE

It is very important that players are given time at the end
of a practice to play soccer in it’s truest form. Try to make this part of the
practice as realistic as possible, by letting the play flow without intercepting
to deliver coaching points. This will give players a chance to express
themselves, as well as give you the opportunity to assess how players are
developing and get ideas for team selection.

COOL DOWN AND DISCUSSION OF LEARNING OUTCOMES

If the players being coached are teenagers, ask them to take
a few minutes at the end of the scrimmage to stretch their muscles. Recommend
that they take a warm shower or bath when they get home and inform them that
cooling down is an effective way of reducing post exercise muscle soreness. At
the very end of practice, or while the players are stretching, the coach should
have a brief discussion with the players about what they had learned during the
session.

ORGANIZATION

Ensure that you arrive at the venue at least ten minutes
before the practice is due to start. This way you can carry out the following
necessary safety checks before the players arrive: -

Are there any hazards on the playing surface, such as litter, dog mess,
divots, etc? If so, remove them.

Where is the nearest telephone?

Where is the nearest bathroom?

Where is the nearest shelter in the event of bad weather?

Are there any potential dangers surrounding the surface, such as a river
on road?

Arriving early will also give you time to set up your cones
and markers for practice and allow you to meet and greet players and parents as
they arrive.

When setting up your cones and markers, try to use as few as
possible and color code them if you can. Children will find it hard to figure
out boundaries with many cones of different colors. Also, to safe time position
your cones and markers so that you only have to make minimal changes during your
practice.

Always take a register or count the number of players
attending the practice before it starts. This way you will know how to divide
the players into groups / teams and you will know if anyone has gone missing.
For safety reasons, check that all the players are wearing the correct clothes
and footwear for soccer. They must also take off any items of jewelry and may
not chew during the practice. The coach should also abide by this to set an
example.

POSITIONING

When conducting the practice, or talking to the players as a
group or team, try to position yourself where everyone can see and hear you.
This is most likely to be in the middle of the group or in front of them. Stand
yourself facing the sun so that the players do not have to look into it. That
way they can see you clearly without squinting.

COMUNICATION

Challenger Sports soccer coaches recommend using the ‘Question
and Answer method’ when communicating with players. The ‘Question and Answer
method’ consists of the coach asking the players questions about basic
coaching points and encouraging them to come up with the answers. For example,

Coach: "What part of the foot do we use to make short
passes?"

Player: "The inside of the foot."

Coach: "Well done Peter, does anyone know what part of
the ball we kick and why?"

Player: "The middle, so that it stays on the
ground."

Coach: "Excellent. Now show me passing with the inside
of the foot please?"

If the players cannot come up with the correct answer, give
them some clues so that they can work it out for themselves. Try to target
questions to everyone in the group, rather than singling out one player. This
way, most of the players will think of the answer in fear of being asked in
front of their teammates.

When coaching new or difficult topics, the players may not
know the answers to the questions. When this is the case, the coach can give a
practical demonstration or an explanation. However, when communicating in this
way, always remember the KISS Principle: -

‘Keep It Short and Simple’.

Since young players have a short attention span, they will
stop listening and think of something else after the first sentence. Therefore,
avoid lengthy explanations. Certainly do not use any offensive words or make any
controversial statements! Young players look up to their coaches and may repeat
what they have heard when it is not appropriate. Be positive when communicating
to the group or to an individual player. There are many affective ways of
telling a player that they need to improve their skills. For example: -

Negative language –

Coach: "What do you think you were doing wrong there
Katie?"

Positive language –

Coach: "How do you think you could do that better
Katie?"

Try to reinforce positive behavior where it is due. Aim to
give each player some positive feedback by the end of the practice so that they
leave feeling like they have achieved something, even if it is the smallest of
things. When coaching soccer, express your enthusiasm and love for the game as
you communicate with the players. There is nothing worse than a coach who talks
with a monotone voice and stands with his/her arms crossed for the entire
practice. Be energetic and upbeat, and your players will sense that you want to
be there.